Supreme Court clears path for New Jersey mail voting

Federal requirements remain blocked

The U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 14 ruled against President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing new requirements on mail-in voting. The action clears the way for New Jersey to send mail-in ballots later in the week without those requirements taking effect.

Trump’s order would have required the U.S. Postal Service to approve ballot-envelope designs in advance. It also would have required states to submit lists of voters receiving mail-in ballots through an online portal.

The Supreme Court action followed federal court orders blocking implementation. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols issued a preliminary injunction in Washington on Sept. 13, after a similar injunction was issued in Boston in August. Nichols found that the requirements increased the risk that valid absentee or mail-in ballots would not be counted.

The Supreme Court’s order was unsigned and did not include a vote count. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence, while Justices Samuel Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill welcomed the decision and said states administer elections. The American Postal Workers Union had also opposed making postal employees responsible for verifying voter eligibility.

How to vote by mail in New Jersey

Any New Jersey voter may apply for a mail-in ballot by completing an application and returning it to the voter’s county clerk.

Completed ballots may be mailed, placed in a secure ballot drop box or delivered to the county board of elections office. Ballots returned through the Postal Service must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters may instead cast ballots during early in-person voting from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 or vote on Election Day, Nov. 3.